Magna Road reopened after flooding causes closure "nightmare"

RESIDENTS and motorists have described the flooding of a busy road in Poole as a “nightmare” as the road has been closed for nine days.

Magna Road was submerged with water two feet deep on Christmas Eve between King John Avenue at Bear Cross and Queen Anne Drive.

The road was reopened a week later, but torrential rain caused the stretch of the A341 near Canford School to flood again on New Year’s Day.

Highways operatives from Poole Council pumped away the floodwater this afternoon but said the road could be flooded once again if there is another downpour.

Local resident Christine Selby, 66, said: “The road closure is an absolute nightmare and it’s causing a lot of problems for residents and motorists as it is a route which a lot of people use to get into Bournemouth.”

Despite road closure warnings put up by Poole Council at one end and Bournemouth Council at the other, several motorists have ventured into the deep water and become stuck.

Motorcyclist Fergus Cairns, 41, said: “I came down from Reading on Christmas Eve and the road was closed. I even saw two cars submerged, so I went the longer way round as there is no way I would try and go through such deep water.

“It’s inconvenient because this is the only road which leads directly through to Bournemouth.”

Jason Bond, 37 said: “I had to go a different way to work because of the flooding. It’s been like this for well over a week and the water is at least two feet deep.”

A spokesperson from Poole council said: “We have been working hard to ensure disruption to the road network is minimised. Magna Road has been closed but reopened after staff successfully cleared the flood water using pumps.”